________________ Vol. II/No. 2. Eternal Wisdom After the soldiers had passed, the Maharaja also came to the same spot. When he saw the Rajarshi doing this difficult penance, he was filled with veneration and he bowed down to him. Then, he went to Bhagawan Mahawir and after bowing down to him with the utmost respect in his heart; he started listening to his holy preachings. When the opportunity came he asked : ""O Lord! How exalted is the penance of Rajarshi Prasannachandra! If he had passed away at the moment when I was doing my salutations to him, what would have been his next birth ?" The Lord of all the great saints (10), Bhagawan Mahawir replied : "He would be born in the seventh hell (i.e. the worst possible birth )!" Hearing this answer, Maharaja Shrenika was very much surprised ( because he thought such severe Tapa and Dhyana would have led to a high birth); and he asked again: "O Lord! If he were to pass away now, then what would be his next birth?" : The reply was: "In the heaven called Sarwartha Siddha Wiman he would be born as a Deva (deity)." The king's surprise grew considerably and he exclaimed: "Why so !?" :: After a very shortwhile, one could hear the beating of the heavenly drums (Dundubhi - cfar ), and proclamations of Victory ! Victory! (Harz) in the air. When the king of Magadha heard this he again asked : "O Lord! what is the meaning of these sounds of drums and victory ?" The Bhagawan Mahawir answered: "The Rajarshi has now achieved Omniscience (90317 - Kewalgnana), and hence has put an end to all further cycles of births and deaths. It is because of this that the Devas are beating the heavenly drums and gloriously proclaiming his Victory!"